Monthly Archives: November 2010

The all-new Mazda2 has many of the features necessary to make it a big success in the subcompact segment. It’s stylish, it’s sporty, and it’s affordable. But one area which Mazda hopes to improve is its fuel-efficiency.

“Mazda is renewing its entire powertrain and platform lineup at the same time as revolutionizing every manufacturing process from R&D through to mass production,” said hief Executive Officer Takashi Yamanouch. “There have been no compromises in addressing conflicting goals. Instead, we have implemented a ‘breakthrough’ approach to technical innovation in all areas that has produced incredible, unexpected results.

The current Mazda2, with a manual transmission, gets 29 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, which is by no means bad. But when the next-generation hits showrooms, Mazda will replace its powertrain with its all-new SKYACTIV engine and transmission technology. The result will be 70 mpg according to the automaker, making it the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car available.

Mazda will launch the next Mazda2 in Japan in early 2011, with sales in other markets to follow. While the Mazda2 is still a very new model in the U.S., it has been on sale overseas for quite some time, which is explains the rather swift arrival of the next-gen model.

“I promise that we will offer the Demio at a lower price than a hybrid of the same segment,” said Yamanouchi during a news conference, declining to elaborate.

If the next Mazda2 will be able to reach the 70 mpg mark, it will be able to exceed the mileage of hybrids, and still undercut their price. Mix in a little ‘Zoom Zoom’ and Mazda might just have another winner.